Multiculturalism

Question 1

Definition of multiculturalism

Answer 1

‘The coexistence of different cultural groups within a nation’

(Mookherjee, 2015)

Question 2

How did the idea of toleration come about?

Answer 2

As a solution to the religious wars in Europe during the 16th century, Locke argues the state cannot dictate the nature of belief for its citizens creating a separation between the public and private sphere

Question 3

How has multiculturalism failed as a political concept ?

Answer 3

Ethnic minorites are excluded in the ‘neutral public sphere’
Neutral sphere is not neutral but a representation of the collective majority

Question 4

What does Taylor argue about culture structure?

Answer 4

Human beings make sense of the world through frameworks or values that are constructed between people of the same culture

Taylor, 1999

Question 5

How can freedom be understood for ethnic groups?

Answer 5

Freedom understood as recognition of ones culture not individual liberty

Question 6

Example of ethnic groups excluded from public sphere?

Answer 6

There are no regulations for Muslims to pray everyday during Ramadan

Question 7

Argument in favour of cultural rights?

Answer 7

• Culture structure is needed to develop personal autonomy, not liberal ideas of free speech and right to vote
• Historical treatment of western populations on minority groups
• There is no absolute truth in western set of values, they are subjective

Question 8

What is Kymlicka’s argument against cultural rights

Answer 8

‘Minorites have internal restrictions that limit individual liberties within the group’.
For example gendered domestic roles that limit personal autonomy

Kymlicka, 1989

Question 9

What does Tomasi argue?

Answer 9

Liberal society provides equally suitable cultural structure to achieve personal autonomy

Tomasi, 1995